Apparatus for indicating the density of liquid flowing through a pipe



Feb. 2, 1960 L. F. MOTT APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE DENSITY OF Filed NOV. 50, 1956 LIQUID FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE 5 sheets-sheet 1 Fg. E

L. F. MO T APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE DENSITY 0F LIQUID FLOWING THROUGH A PIPEv Filed Nov. 30. 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nqv. so,- 195e Feb. 2, 1960 L. F'. M01-'r 2,923,159

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE DENSITY 0F v LIQUID FLowING THROUGH A PIPE v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 2, 1960 File@ Nov. so, 195e L. F. MOTT APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE DENSITY OF 2,923,159 LIQUID FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 2, 1960 L. F. Mo'rT 2,923,159 APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE DENSITY OF LIQUID FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE Filed Nov. 30, 1956 Fig. 7

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 APPARATUS FORv INDICATING THE DENSITY F LIQUID FLOWING THROUGH A PIPE Lawrence Farnell Mott, Wolverhampton, England, as-

signor to H. M. Hobson Limited, London, England, a company of Great Britain Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,271

Claims. (Cl. 73-452) This Vvinvention relates to. apparatus for indicating the density of liquid flowing through a pipe.

A liquid density-monitor is -known which consists cssentially -(Figure l) of a float attached to an arm which is pivoted at its other end, the axis of the pivot being substantially horizontal. The `fioatand arm have a certain mass which can be represented as being concentrated, on a -radius lying approximately 45 below the radius on which the centre of buoyancy of the float lies.

The device isrdesigned so that when immersed in a liquid having a density in the middle of the range of density changes that it is desired to indicate, the angle subtended between a radius r1 from the pivot through the centre of buoyancy of the float is approximately 90 to the vertical, and a radius r2 passing from the pivot through the centre of mass of .the float and arm is approximately 45 to the vertical. Under these conditions,

the equilibrium of the system is represented by the equation:-

l-gll sin 91=-v% sin H2 B=buoyancy force, W=efective weight at centre of mass,

6-1='angle or r1y to the vertical (00),

02=angle of r2 to the vertical=(01-45 approx), g=acceleration in the direction 00.

Changes of density of the liquid will cause proportionate changes in the moment'represented by the left-hand` term of the equation, which will be counteracted by an equal change in the right-hand term. If the immersed mass is made of a substance having a high density in relation to the density of the liquids, e.g., a heavy metal, and the liquid is less dense than water, e.g., is a hydrocarbon fuel, then the Vchangerin the 4value of W in the right-hand side of the equation will be small and the term sin 02 willy alter proportionallyrto the change of density.

Thus, for any particular -float-mass system, the angle 01, which bears a constantv relation to 02, will be a measure of the density of the liquid, within a certain range on either side of the density which satisfies the equilibrium equation. For any chosen value of the angle 01-02 the density is a unique function of the angle 01.

This relaticnship is unaffected by changes in the magnitude of the acceleration g since the buoyancy B and effective weight W are both proportional to g. If g is zero then both sides of the equation are zero and the angle 01 has a random value. The relationship therefore holds only when g has a finite value.

For a density monitor iixed relative to the earth, angle 01 can be measured relative to a known vertical, but if the monitor is required to operate in a moving vehicle subject to change of velocity, a reference may be provided in the form of a pendulum which may conveniently be pivoted upon the same axis as the oat/mass system, 01, is then the angle between the two.

Where, however, a pendulum is used to provide the ref- 2,923,159 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 ICS erence, changes in the radial direction of the acceleration g, occasioned by changes in the speed and attitude of the vehicle, will cause transient variations in the angle 01 between the float/mass system and the pendulum unrelated to density changes. This is because the time of re-orienta tion to a changed direction of g'cannot be similar at all angles of change for both the float/mass system andthe reference pendulum.

To overcome this, it is proposed according to the invention to employ two similar float/mass systems pivotably mounted on a common horizontal axis and arrangedon opposite sides of a vertical plane containing the axis so that one system is substantially a mirror image of the other system. The angle between the two systems will then provide a measure of density. The relative angular movement per degree of density change will be twice thatl obtained from the single float/mass system, and for similar means of indication, eg., an electrical potentiometer and a co-operating slider, since twice themovement is available, the friction moment, and hence the inaccuracies due to friction, will be halved also.

Two embodiments of the density monitor are described in more detail below, with reference to the drawings.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a known liquid density monitor.

Figures 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sectional viewsV in `planes at right angles to one another, of the first embodiment,

Figure 4 is-an end elevation of the second embodiment.

Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4. Figure 6 is a View looking from the right-handside of Fig. 5 with the end cover removed,

Figure 7 is a section on the line VII--VII Aof Fig. 4, Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the float/mass systems. f

In the figures, i.e., in Figures 2 to numerals indicate like parts.

The apparatus shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3 comprises a cylindrical casing 14, into which liquid enters at 15 yand from which liquid flows out at 16. Pivoted at one side ofa central spindle or shaft 17 are ahollow float 18 and associated weight 19,' and pivoted at the other side of the spindle are a hollow float 28 and associatedk weight 29. The float 18 carries apotentiometer 20, with which co-acts a slider 21 carried by the float 28; Electrical connections are made to the two ends ofthe potentiometer and to the slider by slip rings Z2 and brushes 23. The available E.M.F picked off from the potentiometer 20 by the slider 21 can be used to adjust the position of 8, like reference y a pointer or to modify the indication of a mechanical,

hydraulic or electro-hydraulic flowmeter, e.g., of a known owmeter.

ln an alternative forni, a mechanical linkage can be displaced by a change in the angle between the two float/ mass systems to derive therefrom the required density indication.

Figs. 4 to 8 show a practical form of the density monitor illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3. The casing 14 has a detachable cover 24 (Fig. '5) held in position by an internally threaded locking ring 25. Liquid entering the casing through the inlet 15 Hows into the interior of the casing through a passage 26. The liquid liows out to the outlet 16 through a passage 27 and a filter 30 (Fig. 4).

The floats 18 and 28 are solid and made of nylon and the weights 19, 29 are attached to them by bars 38, 39 respectively, each of which is screwed at its opposite ends to the float and the weight as shown. The floats are pivotally mounted on a common horizontal axis by means of jewel bearings as will now be described. The float 18 carries a forked boss 48 (Fig. 5), into which are fitted metal spindles 58 engaging in sleeve jewel bearings 68 supported-by bushes-33l ofinsulating material housed in-plugs 31, 32 which-are respectively screwed into the end wall of the casing 14 and into the cover 24. The float 18 `carriesl a boss49, yinto which are litted spindles SQQhaving-.pointed ends engaging/inA conical `jewelA bearings @supported-by.thelbossg48 ron` the floatr 18.1 An adjust-ing screw 34 is. providedbetweenthespindles 59;-

The potentiometer `20 is 'vsupportedby'the iioat` 18.y

Current isf suppliedto oneend of the 1 potentiometerA through-a IeadSSa-Yrnetal plugiscrewed into the lefthand-insulating bush y33- (Fig. 5), acarbon brush 37' pressed against the left-hand spindle SVS-by a spring 40, the boss 48 and alead 41.- TheA other end lofthe potentiometer 20 isconnected by a lead 42 to a'slip ring'43, mountedy onan-insulating-bush-44: A brush-45-(Fig.

ar screw- 52:1 By slacking the screw SZsand 'rotatingthe plate 50, the pressurevv-ofthe--brush 45 against the slip,l

ring` 43' ican be adjusted. l

Theslider Z1 is mounted on the-oat 28 andf'is con-Y nected'byta lead 53` to aimetal plate -54 (Fig. V4) mounted on an insulating bush55. The plate 54 isY electrically connected to a lead fthrough the right-hand spindle S8 (Figni),l a carbon-brush -5f7pressed againstthe spindle-S8' by a-spring` 60,4 anda-metal plug 61 screwed into the right-hand insulating bush 33.

The electrical yconnections from the-two endsA of the potentiometer 20 and fromthe slider 21 aretakento -a common plug connector 62 (Fig. 4) adapted to receive a cofop'erating socketsconnector carrying-conductors by which the variable picked'off-from the' potentiometerfby-itheslider is applied to a suitable indicator, or to a owmeter to regulate -the same "to giyeindications' of massilowr.r l

l. A density indicator for liquids, comprising a vliquid'l container, av rst ioatk assemblyconstituted'fby aA iloat and connected weight immersedin the liquid, a hori" said horizontal'shaft so as-to assumean angular position corresponding to the density of the liquid in-the'container,

thetwo .float assemblies ,being arranged symmetricallyl about a vertical plane passing through-thejshaft, and means to indicatethe angle between the respective levers of the two tloat assemblies 2. Avdensity indicator according to claim *1, including, an electrical potentiometer having the resistance element 4` i thereof connected to and movable by the lever of one float assembly, a potentiometerslider connected to'and` movable by the lever of theiother float assembly, electrical means connecting the potentiometer to a source of electromotive force, and means for measuring the voltage between a potentiometer terminal and the slider.

3. A density indicator for liquids according to claim l, in which the liquid container includes'. a filling opening and a discharge opening for the liquid.

4. A liquid density monitor comprising; two similar float assemblies pivotally mounted on spindles for rotaf tion about a' horizontal axis and arrangedon opposite sides of a vertical plane containing said horizontal axis, whereby one oat assembly is substantially a mirror image of the other float assembly, a casing enclosing said oat assemblies, liquid inlet and 'outletm'eansfor said casing, a removable cover closing said casing, one oat assembly having a forked boss, said forked boss carrying spindles engagingsleeve jewelv bearings"supp`orted respectivelyv by the casing and the cover; the other oatassembly'having' a boss carryingV spindle 'engaging' conical jewel; Vbearings carried byfsaid forked boss "of the` iirst "oatf assembly, 1 said" spindlesv being coaxial and deningsaid horizontal axis and means for indicating the angle'betwe'enthe'two float assemblies; f

5. A density indicator'forliquidsgcomprising afliquid container, a iirst* oat' assemblyconst'itut'edbya ilo'ata'nd connected weight `imrnersed'in tlreeliq'uid; a'slzf-tIslip-` ported in and acrossth'e"containenlalever forn'iitgpar'tof `said'assenrbly and pivoted upon 'the shafi'fso` as'"to' assume aniangular position'correspondingto' the density" of the liquid in the` container, a second'tioat assembly constituted by a oat `andconneeted weiglitimrnersed in the liquid,- la second levenformingpartof said ,second assembly and pivoted upon said shaft so -as'to assuine Van angularposition corresponding to' thev density 'of the liquid in the container, the two oat assemblies being arran'g'ed symmetrically about a plane passing at right angles through the shaft, means to' indicate the angle between the respective levers of the two oat assemblies, acover for the shaft extending .across the liquid-"container, one of the float assemblies .havinga fork-'shapedifportion carrying spindles engaging jewel bearings 'supported respectively by Vthe wallv ofth'liquidcontainer and-th cover, the other float assembly'A having a portion carryingi'spindles engaging conicalliewel `bearfings`-'carried'by a fork-shaped portion extending@ from the rs'tfloatrasf sernbly.A t t,

References Citedf'inthelepf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTsf 

